Athlete, Student

French

Independente de Chenove: France

Nadia Masse [personal], from 2018

2018

She took up the sport at age four in Nogent-sur-Oise, France.

Her older sister was involved in gymnastics, so she wanted to join in. "A coach quickly realised that I had ability, so I was put into a group with gymnasts a little bit older than me."

To compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (gymandnews.com, 03 Oct 2018)

Competing in the juniors division at the 2016 European Championships in Bern, Switzerland. (gymandnews.com, 29 May 2018; gymandnewsdotcom.wordpress.com, 09 Jun 2016)

"I do not regret anything. My success and my foolishness will help me later on." (gymandnews.com, 29 May 2018)

In 2016 she received the Trophee de l'Espoir [Prospect Trophy] from the city of Meaux, France. (meaux.gymnastique.free.fr, 24 Nov 2016; actu.fr, 25 Nov 2016)

FROM FRANCE TO ALGERIA
She represented France at junior level, including in the junior division of the 2016 European Championships in Bern, Switzerland, and joined France's National Institute for Sport, Expertise and Performance [INSEP] the same year. However, by 2018 she was told that her results were not strong enough to continue at INSEP. She expected this meant the end of her high performance career, until a phone call from a French national trainer [Nadia Masse] opened up the possibility of representing Algeria. "Nadia Masse called me and asked me about my origins because she had contacts with Algerian officials who might be interested in me. Competing for Algeria, the country of origin of my father, would be a chance to fulfil my dreams of taking part in major international competitions. I am going to represent my father's country and I feel very proud. And competing at the [2018] worlds [for Algeria] is something exceptional. It's crazy, knowing that just a short while ago I was thinking of putting an end to my career." (gymandnews.com, 29 May 2018, 03 Oct 2018; gymandnewsdotcom.wordpress.com, 09 Jun 2018)